How to Choose a Stain Color for a Log Home

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Log homes were the norm during the 1800s as settlers fanned out across the frontier of the United States. Pioneers built them out of necessity and with the materials they had on hand. These days, log homes are built for style, and while you can create a home using natural wood, a variety of stains are also available to add extra color to the home. Whether you are using it to enhance the color of the wood or to bring new life back to older woods, stains are widely available at any home improvement store.

New Vs. Old

Because it has already had a chance to soak into the wood, older stain has established itself in the fibers of the material. As it fades with time and weather, it leaves blotches of lighter and darker sections, which can be a challenge to restain because the initial absorption has already happened. The more times you stain a piece of wood, the less of the original wood color and grain definition you retain, so bear this in mind when choosing a stain color to go over an existing coat. Stain used against bare wood absorbs more evenly as a general rule. Lighter-colored sections of wood on a restain project require additional coats of stain to bring them up to the same shade as darker sections.

Color of the Wood

The darker the wood, the less influence stain will have. Lighter woods have more range of color. If you are looking to work with the natural beauty of the wood as opposed to covering it up, go with a lighter color of stain that enhances the natural color of the wood. If you are looking to significantly darken a lighter wood, such as pine, use a darker-colored stain.

Oil Vs. Latex

Wood is a natural material that breathes with the environment and exposure to moisture, expanding in hot and humid environments and contracting in dry, cool environments. This natural expansion and shrinking causes cracking and peeling in low-quality oil-based seals. Latex seals are the best type used on log homes because the additional latex allows for elasticity, which keeps the stain from damaging over time. Oil also adds stickiness to the logs, which attracts dirt and debris over time.

Nature of Stain

Stain is applied in layers, and while you can always peel a layer of paint off a wall, once a layer of stain is applied it is there for good. You cannot go back to a lighter color with stain, and each additional layer adds more depth of color and masks the grain of the wood even further. Always start off with a stain that is two to three shades lighter than your final selection, as you may find that one or two coats is sufficient to reach the depth you desire.

Borate Treatments

Some types of wood, such as cedar, naturally repel insects and water. Treating wood, however, is always an effective way to ward off rot and insects over the years. Borate is widely available for use with log homes to help keep the wood from rotting over the years, but it can only be applied to raw wood, not on top of a layer of stain. When working with new homes, consider applying a layer of borate before your stain to help protect the wood for years to come.

About the Author

Tim Anderson has been freelance writing since 2007. His has been published online through GTV Magazine, Home Anatomy, TravBuddy, MMO Hub, Killer Guides and the Delegate2 group. He spent more than 15 years as a third-generation tile and stone contractor before transitioning into freelance writing.